Refrigeration and / or freezer device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling and / or freezing appliance with a water system comprising a water dispensing unit and / or an ice maker, wherein the water system comprises a line and wherein this line comprises an addition device for adding a substance to the water flowing through the line, wherein the addition device has a reduction in the line such that the flow cross-section decreases from an area before the reduction to the reduction, and wherein an injection section is provided which has an injection point for the substance to be added in the area of ​​the reduction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a water system having a water dispensing unit and / or an ice maker, wherein the water system has a line and wherein this line has an addition device for adding a substance to the water flowing through the line.

[0002] It is known from the prior art to provide a cleaning system for the water system of such refrigerators and / or freezers. This cleaning system comprises dosing elements for the substance to be added, as well as complex actuator systems, such as actively controlled valves, etc. It is also known from the prior art to introduce the cleaning agent into the water system in a solid state. This is then dissolved by or in the water flow. Active actuator systems have the disadvantages of increased costs, a comparatively complex design, and a certain susceptibility to failure.

[0003] The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a simple, cost-effective and reliable addition of substances is possible.

[0004] This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer having the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to this, it is provided that the addition device has a first section with a first flow cross-section and a second section with a second flow cross-section, wherein the second flow cross-section is smaller than the first flow cross-section, and that an injection section is present which has an injection point for the substance to be added in the second section.

[0006] The term "water" includes not only pure water, especially tap water, but also water that has already been mixed with one or more additives.

[0007] By integrating an interface for the continuous or discontinuous dosing of additives into the water system of refrigerators and / or freezers, the invention creates the possibility of enriching the supplied drinking water with substances that exhibit a characteristic property, as needed. This can be, for example, a cleaning agent and / or minerals.

[0008] In principle, the substance can be suitable or unsuitable for consumption.

[0009] The inventive reduction of the flow cross-section from the first section to the second section of the line arranged downstream thereof leads to an increase in the flow velocity of the water in the second section compared to the first section of the line, resulting in a static negative pressure in the second section of the line, which leads to the suction of the substance(s). Thus, preferably, neither valves and / or pumps nor other conveying devices for adding the substance(s) are required, although their use is not excluded by the invention.

[0010] The transition from the first to the second section can be continuous or gradual.

[0011] By integrating a corresponding geometry into the water system of refrigerators and / or freezers, a preferred embodiment of the invention can thus evoke a change in the energy level in the form of different pressure values ​​at different points of this adapter, i.e., the water line, purely through the static arrangement of successive, different partial geometries, which can be represented by changing the diameter. These result in the injection of a preferably liquid medium, which is injected from outside, into the main water flow, i.e., into the line.

[0012] The line mentioned can be designed as a separate part, in particular as a piece of hose, pipe, or adapter. It can, for example, be designed as a retrofit part for an existing refrigerator and / or freezer.

[0013] It is also conceivable for the line to be configured as a preferably integral part of a component of the refrigerator and / or freezer. For example, it is conceivable to provide a specific section of a component of the appliance as a line. Thus, it can be provided that the geometry, i.e., the line, can be arranged as an individual component and / or as a partial geometry of another characteristic component, such as a water valve or a filter receptacle, within a water flow and can additionally be subjected to, for example, flexible integration with respect to its position in the water system.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that an arrangement of the line is possible in any angular position, which on the one hand includes a horizontal and / or vertical integration as well as all other angular arrangements within 360°.

[0015] The component can therefore be, for example, a valve or a filter holder.

[0016] It is particularly advantageous if the addition device does not have any actuators. In this embodiment, the addition device is thus an exclusively passive element: as soon as water flows through the line, a negative pressure is created at the injection point, similar to a Venturi nozzle, so that the substance to be added passes through the injection line or from a reservoir, etc., through the injection point into the line and thus into the water therein.

[0017] The substance to be added is preferably in liquid form.

[0018] The line can be designed such that, following the taper from the first to the second section, the flow cross-section of the line increases again in a third section. In other words, in this embodiment, the line has larger flow cross-sections before and after the second section than in the second section itself.

[0019] The transition from the second to the third section can be continuous or gradual.

[0020] It is conceivable that the flow cross-section of the line before and after the second section is identical and / or that the first and third sections are symmetrical in some areas or overall relative to the second section.

[0021] Different flow cross-sections of the first and third sections are also conceivable and encompassed by the invention.

[0022] Preferably, the injection point is located precisely at the point of the smallest flow cross-section of the line. However, the invention encompasses any position of the injection point in which a negative pressure is generated by a reduction in the flow cross-section of the line. In other words, the injection point or the second section does not have to be located precisely at the point of the smallest flow cross-section of the line, but can also be arranged before or after this point.

[0023] In one conceivable embodiment of the invention, the injection point has a minimum diameter and / or minimum flow cross-section that is smaller than the minimum diameter and / or the minimum flow cross-section of the pipe. This means that, in this embodiment, the diameter or flow cross-section of the injection section is always smaller than that of the main water flow, i.e., the pipe.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, a backflow prevention element is provided in the injection section to prevent backflow through the injection section. Preferably, the backflow prevention element is a valve. The force exerted by the backflow prevention element against the flow of liquid in the direction of flow is preferably adjustable.

[0025] Thus, a component can be provided as a partial geometry that completely prevents backflow to the outside via the injection section or from the pipe into the injection section. This offers the advantage of stopping the volume flow of the main water stream, i.e., in the pipe, without water flowing from the pipe into the injection point and from there into the injection section.

[0026] To prevent uncontrolled outflow in the event of a malfunction of the backflow prevention element, a shut-off device may be provided, which is arranged to prevent flow through the injection section when closed, and a detection unit may be present that is designed to detect a fault in the backflow prevention valve and, upon detection of a fault, to activate the shut-off device, i.e., to close it. The shut-off device may, for example, be a valve.

[0027] It is also conceivable that the angle of inclination of the taper is identical before and after the point of smallest flow cross-section, ie in the first and third section, or that different angles of inclination are present and / or that the length of the line is identical before and after the point of smallest flow cross-section from and to a connection to the line or that different lengths are present.

[0028] The angle of inclination is the inclination of the inner wall in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe.

[0029] It should be noted here that the terms "a" and "an" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also encompasses several of the elements in question.

[0030] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0031] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0032] The single figure shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view through a line of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention.

[0033] The cross-section of the line can, for example, be circular.

[0034] The line has a first section 10 in the form of an inlet geometry and a third section 30 in the form of an outlet geometry.

[0035] The second section, 20, is located between sections 10 and 30. This section has a constant flow cross-section along its length. Sections 10 and 30 are conical.

[0036] As can be seen from the figure, the second section has a smaller inner diameter and thus a smaller flow cross-section than the first section 10 and the third section 30.

[0037] Starting from the inlet E for the main water flow, the water flows through the tapered inlet geometry in the form of the first section 10 into the second section 20. By reducing the flow cross-section, the dynamic pressure increases and the static pressure in the water decreases from the first section 10 to the second section 20.

[0038] The injection section 100 opens into the second section 20 at the injection point 110. In the injection section 100 there is a check valve 120 which allows flow through the injection section 100 only to the injection point 110, ie from bottom to top according to the figure.

[0039] Due to the negative pressure present in the second section 20, the valve 120 is opened and liquid from the injection section 100 enters the water flow in the second section 20. The mixture of liquid and water flows from the second section 20 to the third section 30, which, starting from the second section 20, has an increase in the flow cross-section.

[0040] After flowing through the third section 30, the mixture or the water containing the substance reaches the outlet A and from there, for example, to an ice maker, water dispenser, etc.

[0041] As can be seen from the figure, there is no electrically or manually operated actuator. The feeder is simple in design and maintenance-free.

[0042] If the 120 check valve is adjustable, you can specify the flow rate in the line at which the amount of liquid is added. The lighter the valve is adjusted, the more liquid is added and the higher the concentration of the substance in the water.

Claims

1. A refrigerator and / or freezer with a water system having a water dispensing unit and / or an ice maker, wherein the water system has a conduit and wherein this conduit has an addition device for adding a substance to the water flowing through the conduit, characterized in that the addition device has a taper of the line so that the line experiences a reduction in the flow cross-section from a region before the taper towards the taper, and that an injection section is present which has an injection point for the substance to be added in the region of the taper.

2. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that the line is designed as a separate part, in particular as a hose or pipe and / or that the line is designed as a preferably integral part of a component of the refrigerator and / or freezer.

3. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe component is a valve or a filter holder.

4. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the addition device does not have a feed pump and / or actuators.

5. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the line is designed in such a way that the flow cross-section of the line increases as it tapers.

6. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 5, characterized in that the flow cross-section of the pipe is identical before and after the taper.

7. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the injection point has a smallest diameter and / or a smallest flow cross-section that is smaller than the smallest diameter and / or the smallest flow cross-section of the line.

8. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a backflow prevention element is present in the injection section which prevents backflow through the injection section, wherein it is preferably provided that the backflow prevention element is a valve.

9. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 8, characterized in that a shut-off device is provided which is arranged to prevent flow through the injection section when closed, and that a detection unit is present which is designed to detect a fault in the backflow prevention valve and to activate the shut-off device upon detection of a fault.

10. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in thatthe angle of inclination before and after the point of smallest flow cross-section is identical or that different angles of inclination exist and or that the length of the pipe before and after the point of smallest flow cross-section from and to a connection is identical or that different lengths exist.

11. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle of inclination before and after the point of smallest flow cross-section is identical or that different angles of inclination are present.

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